Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Exeter as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Exeter gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #44 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 72 claims here since 1981.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Exeter faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Exeter’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Exeter, and Exeter’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #44 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Exeter’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Exeter has less expected damage per building than 66% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across Exeter: $4.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Exeter flood? Sometimes: 72 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Exeter, from FEMA’s records: 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter9 claims · $117K
Exeter isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rockingham County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Exeter
Disasters that paid out in Exeter itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Exeter), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$5K to the Town of Exeter for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$69K to the Town of Exeter for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$54K to the Town of Exeter for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$66K to the Town of Exeter for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$30K to the Town of Exeter for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Town of Exeter for repairs
Show all 14
- 2011Hurricane Irene$15K to the Town of Exeter for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$62K to the Town of Exeter for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$55K to the Town of Exeter for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$144K to the Town of Exeter for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$11K to the Town of Exeter for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding122 households applied for aid$183K aid approved$19K to the Town of Exeter for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$29K to the Town of Exeter for repairs
- 2001Snow$37K to the Town of Exeter for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Rockingham County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Exeter after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Exeter archive →Exeter and its neighbors
Exeter is 7th of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Stratham | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Kensington | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| East Kingston | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Newfields | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brentwood | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Exeter | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Exeter faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Exeter
Is Exeter at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Exeter has lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #44 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Exeter flood?
Flood insurance has paid 72 claims in Exeter since 1981, $1.3M in all, or 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 17 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (9).
Is Exeter in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Rockingham County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Exeter?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Exeter’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Exeter?
By FEMA money that reached Exeter, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 122 households applied for aid, $183K approved, and $19K to the Town of Exeter for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 9 paid, $117K.
Is Exeter at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Exeter’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Exeter.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Exeter’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.